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Special Plants Nursery (Chippenham, England)

Our third day was a busy one as we left our first hotel in Bath and traveled to Wells. There were several stops along the way, the first being Special Plants Nursery in Chippenham, England. It was a warm day. The nursery is owned by former Oregonian Derry Watkins, who moved to England decades ago when she married an Englishman. She is a plant collector and has traveled all over the world, her favorite place being South Africa.  That is Derry in the above photos talking to our group. The house and garden are located on a steep hill with idyllic countryside surrounding it. She says the garden was designed by her architect husband and she has filled it with her favorite plants, mostly tender perennials that she has collected from her plant-hunting expeditions. Most of the beds are terraced and many plants are grown in gravel. The garden is also enhanced with some striking ornaments - Lower island beds proceed downhill - A bog garden - At the bottom of the property is a woodland walk....

Broccoli Salad


This is one of my favorite recipes and a very simple one. Some of the ingredients are optional, such as the cheese and tomato. 

1 large broccoli head (or 3-4 cups)
6-8 slices of crispy bacon, cooked and chopped
1/2 cup green onions (or red onions)
1/2 cup raisins
8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, cubed or grated
1 cup mayonnaise
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup sliced grape tomatoes (or any type tomato) 

Cut the broccoli heads into bite-sized pieces. 

Place in a large bowl and add the chopped bacon, onions, raisins, cheese and tomato.

In a small separate bowl, mixed the mayonnaise, vinegar and sugar. Mix well and drizzle over the broccoli mixture. 

Toss gently and refrigerate.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. Any salad that includes cheese and bacon is a winner in my book!

    ReplyDelete

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